Having good rain hiking gear is important for your enjoyment level. Here are some tips and thoughts about rain gear to keep you dry and warm.
When I think of hiking, I picture a warm, sunny day in the mountains. Unfortunately, it is not always sunny or warm. That means you can either choose to stay inside your house or you can go hiking regardless of the weather conditions. One key to still being able to enjoy your hike in rainy weather is the proper gear.
Photo via Flickr.
Waterproof or water resistant or water repellant?
What the heck is the difference between a jacket that is waterproof and one that is water resistant? They may sound like the same thing, but they are in fact very different and can mean the difference between a jacket that will keep you dry and one that will have you wet and cold. Of course, this depends on the severity of the rain and how long you are in it. A water resistant jacket will be fine if you are only in the rain for a short time.
- Water resistant – LEAST PROTECTIVE when it comes to how long this will keep out water and keep you dry.
- Water repellant – MODERATELY PROTECTIVE as this is generally some kind of fabric that has been treated to repel water. This will cause the water to bead up and stay off. Something like this will eventually get soaked completely through in a serious downpour and you will become wet.
- Waterproof – BEST since this type of jacket will keep out the rain much better than the others.
Rain Hiking Gear Should Be Breathable
You want to find some rain gear that will both keep the rain out and will also breathe because as you hike you will get sweaty and hot. If your rain gear is not breathable than you will get very uncomfortable and sweaty as you hike.
Do you need a fancy jacket? Photo via Flickr.
How High Quality Of Rain Hiking Gear Do You Need?
That is a tough question that I think really comes down to what kind of hiking you are going to be doing and what kind of rain you will be facing.
Unfortunately, I have found that when it comes to rain gear you are going to get what you pay for. Those jackets that cost a lot of money are better designed and will actually keep you drier.
A good, high quality rain jacket that is water proof and breathable will cost a lot of money and keep you total dry when you go hiking. You may not need one of those if you are only hiking for a few hours or it is not raining much.
However, if you are going to be hiking a lot in the rain or are taking a long backpacking trip in an area that gets consistent rain, a high end jacket may be worth paying for.
Rain Hiking Gear – Keep Your Feet Happy
In order to keep your feet happy when you are hiking there are a few main things that you can do, but mainly you are trying to keep them dry or at least as dry as possible.
The first step towards keeping your feet happy is to wear good hiking shoes that are waterproof. Shoes or boots that are leather will do the trick if treated properly. Or other shoes that have some kind of gore tex liner will also work.
The second key to happy feet is to have good socks. It is amazing the quality of hiking socks that are available these days. You can find socks specialized for hiking that will work to stay or still keep your feet warm even when wet. Wear a good pair of these socks and bring along an extra pair just in case.
Another optional item that you can use to help keep your feet dry is a pair of gaiters. These sip on over your shoes and create a seal of fabric between your shoes and the bottom of your pants so that no water or rocks or debris can enter into the tops of your shoes.
Keep Your Backpack And Stuff Dry
One of the best ways that I have found to keep my stuff dry when I am hiking or backpacking is to keep everything inside of small bags. For my small items, such as a book, notebook, or playing cards I keep them inside of small Ziploc bags inside my backpack. That way if my backpack gets wet they are still dry.
In addition to the small bags, I will also take a large plastic garbage bag and line the inside of my backpack with it. All of my clothes and other items I’m carrying in my backpack go inside of that bag inside my backpack. That assures they will be dry when I arrive at camp or back home.